FOUNDED in 1991, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) arose out of the need to foster greater environment awareness among the Jamaican public and to spur the appropriate action.

Programme director, Carlette Falloon, says the goals of the Trust are three-fold.

“Firstly, we aim to develop and implement a comprehensive, islandwide, action-oriented environmental programme within the formal school system.”

This is done through a range of educational projects and other outreach and advocacy activities. The second goal is to develop and implement an effective public education campaign aimed at a range of audiences, and the third is to develop and implement programmes to engage children and young people to become activists and advocates for environmental issues.

Those goals are principally embodied in the Schools Environment Programme (SEP), which Falloon describes as the primary activity of the organisation. “The programme is presently operating in 316 schools islandwide, reaching over 200,000 students.”

Now in its fifth year, SEP also involves 16 other organisations, including 4-H Clubs, the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust, and other parish-based organisations, which handle the “on-the-ground work”.

A corollary to the SEP is the Schools Environment Network (SEN), which can be characterised as the “youth arm” of the organisation. The group has become known for its annual beach-clean-up exercise along the Palisadoes stretch of the Kingston Harbour. The youngsters also advocate in respect of global warming. This takes the form of Earth Time Now — the Youth Environmental Conference, held annually at the Jamaica Conference Centre. The SEN also conducts media tours of individual projects and mounts slide presentations on demand.

As with any socially-conscious non-governmental organisation, funding is a significant concern. The JET has been able to secure funds from a mix of donors, principally the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), Canadian Green Fund, Environmental Action Programme and the British High Commission. Funding also comes from several local private firms, including CIBC, IGL and Alcoa. The organisation says it has some 50 corporate sponsors.

Another funding source, one in which the organisation is seeking to build substantially, is membership. The membership stands at some 500 individuals. The day-to-day administrative work of the JET is handled by Falloon and two volunteers.

On Tuesday JET hosted Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, at its newly opened headquarters on Waterloo Road.

The couple were in the island on a three-day visit.

Falloon advises that the organisation will be showcasing its activities, as well as facilitating discussions between Prince Philip and the children in respect of the SEP and other initiatives.

JET was founded by environmental activist, Diana MaCaulay, and a group of concerned Jamaicans.